The Book of the Fours

Chapter IX: Unshaken

[93]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, possessed of four qualities
one is put into purgatory
according to his deserts.

What are the four?

He is a liar,
he is a malicious speaker,
he is of harsh speech,
he is an idle babbler.

Possessed of these four qualities
one is put into purgatory
according to his deserts.

Monks, possessed of four qualities
one is put into heaven
according to his deserts.

What are the four?

He abstains from telling lies,
he abstains from malicious speech,
he abstains from harsh speech,
he abstains from idle babble.

Possessed of four qualities
one is put into heaven
according to his deserts."